Little is known about the etiology of tumors of the brain and central nervoussystem(CNS);however,epidemiologic studieshave indicated recentlythat excess brain and CNS tumor risk may be associated with employment in certain occupations or industries. Some studies have shown that certain white-collar professional groups (eg, artists, laboratory professionals, veterinarians, embalmers) appear to havean elevated riskof brain tumors, and theyraisethe issueof a diagnostic sensitivity bias. Someblue-collar occupationalgroups, includingrubber workers, oil refineryworkers, chemical plant workers, polyvinylchloride workers, machinists, and others, have been reported to havean elevatedrisk of brain tumors. Most of these workers are potentially exposed to multiple chemicals; nevertheless they have some exposuresin common, for example, exposureto organic solvents, lubricating oil, acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride, formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phenolic compounds

Key terms acrylonitrile; brain tumor; formaldehyde; lubricating oil; occupational risk factor; organic solvent; phenolic compound; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; review; risk factor; vinyl chloride